As a sudden change of temperature in the Philippines rises, a large number of people feel it. To maintain the transition of learning continuity, face-to-face classes in various universities continue to shift to alternative learning modes.
With this, Enverga University released an official announcement on its Facebook page and other social media platforms about the shift to asynchronous learning modality in all levels in the main campus, all of its affiliate schools and temporary dress code for college students except for those who are enrolled in the College of Maritime Education (CME), April 6 and 7.
Heating up
It was the third day of April, when Mikee, a second-year student, properly attired with her thick CAFA uniform, began to feel a severe headache and was not able to attend her face-to-face classes on the campus as she could not withstand the heat of the raging sun she experienced that day.
“Hindi po okay. Tulad po kahapon, sobrang init. Hindi rin ako nakapasok kahapon kasi nga sobrang init at sobrang sakit ng ulo ko tapos ngayon lang naging okay”. she said in an interview of The Luzonian.
According to a study produced by the University of Roehampton in England, the human body may stop functioning optimally and may lose the ability to rid itself of excessive heat when it reaches a 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) temperature.
A statement also from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that beyond a temperature of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius is considered dangerous, and higher than 52 degrees Celsius is already risky that can cause heat stroke, cramps, and exhaustion.
Same with Mikee, as she experienced a headache due to extreme heat which caused her not to be able to attend synchronous classes on campus.
Burned Out
Semi-finals for this semester have finally started, and students are more focused on their school-related activities. However, some of them find that they are hardly able to concentrate on their academics due to this weather.
Second-year Criminology student, Aezel Marie, shared her experience going to campus and her classes every day during this situation.
“Kapag sa umaga, tuwing may pasok nang 7:30, lalo na sa department namin, malayo. Bago po kami dumating sa school [department] po namin, haggard na po kami, and pawisan na agad”.
“Yung temperature ngayon is masakit s’ya sa ulo tapos hindi rin komportable kasi sobrang init. Sobrang nakakaapekto kasi ‘yun nga po, hindi ka makagalaw ng maayos kasi sobrang init kahit nakaupo ka lang, papawisan ka talaga”. said by Camille, a first-year student from the College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA).
A Wear of Comfort
In terms of proper school attire for students, Enverga University has its prescribed school uniform that is required to be worn under its dress code policy.
Based on the 2023-2024 revised edition of the Office of Student Affairs and Services’ (OSAS) College Student Handbook, within its Student Decorum guidelines, that prescribed maroon skirt and white blouse are required for female students, and white pants and white short-sleeved polo shall be required to male. A special consideration is also included for students who are part of the LGBTQ+1 members and physically challenged with appropriate design of their uniforms.
Wearing it may be the likes of formality and following the policy. Envergan students expressed their thoughts on wearing school uniforms during this situation.Mikhaela, who’s currently taking a political science program, and a student assistant at Engineering Technical Laboratory, conveyed her preference for wearing freestyle or departmental shirts on campus and while attending her student assistantship works.
“As much as possible po, freestyle po or department shirt kasi mas comfortable po ako dun lalo na po sa’kin na na-outgrow na po ‘yung uniform ko. Kasi, parang iba din po kasi yung tela ng uniform ko kaya ang banas [mainit] din po”.
“Hindi na, kung malamig comfortable pa naman. Kaya lang, sobrang init, dumidikit na ‘yung tela sa katawan sa sobrang pawis. Hindi pa nakakatulong na wala masyadong hangin kaya hindi mo talaga mararamdaman sa loob ng uniform mo gawa ng hapit nga”.
“To be honest, parang nakakatamad pumasok kasi hindi mo kayang mag-isip tapos parang feeling mo dehydrated ka pa pagpasok o papasok ka pa lang. Kahit nga after maligo, ramdam agad ‘yung init kaya mawawalan ka talaga ng ganang pumasok kasi sobrang init, hindi na kinakaya ng utak. Kahit anong inom mo ng tubig nakakapagod pa rin dahil nga sa init”. she added.
CAFA students, Mikee and Camille, expressed concerns about wearing their department’s school uniform.
“Mahirap s’ya actually, lalo na kung pagbabasehan ang uniform. Kasi iba ang uniform namin sa iba [department]. Sa uniform namin, pantalon pa lang, sobrang init na. Kahit saan kami pumwesto dito [sa campus] sobrang init talaga”. Mikee stated.
“Mainit talaga suotin ‘yung uniform pero kung pwede magsuot ng dept shirt o kaya ‘yung mga PE shirts kasi mas komportable at hindi masyadong mabanas [mainit]”. Camille said.
During the interview, they also talked about their awareness of the dress code policy of the University.
Shared with CCJC student, Aezel, that they have different rules in their department as departmental attire and organizational shirts are only allowed on Fridays and Saturdays. John Lloyd, a fourth-year graduating student from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) said that the university’s policy on wearing uniforms is for formality of the students.
Beat the Heat
Following a continuous rise of heat weather, a study from Science Advances stated that the impact of climate change worsens the duration of heat waves and exposes humans to feel an extreme temperature for longer than before.
Due to this, more than 26 million students enrolled across the Philippines are enduring the severe effects of climate change, which threaten their education and cause school calendars to change and suspend classes due to increasingly violent weather events.
As this rising heat is still happening, a vast population of learners and employees in the country are affected by it. While Envergans expressed warm voices, their overall health is a must in this situation, an immediate action is in great need in these circumstances, and a response that will benefit their well-being.
To provide light on this situation, the Health and Safety Office (HSO) released a Memorandum Order No. 3, Series of 2024 that all teaching and non-teaching employees including students may wear smart casual attire and are advised to bring water tumblers during working hours and coordinate with their immediate head for the implementation of flexible work schedule to decrease exposure to direct sunlight.
Furthermore, the University advised all college students except for those who are enrolled in the College of Maritime Education (CME) to wear a selected attire that will cater to their comfort while attending on-ground classes and other transactions in the campus.
Following instructions that a plain white shirt and checkered/black culinary pants are required for culinary laboratory subjects and a requirement for closed shoes in science and culinary laboratory classes. The said dress code will be effective from April 8 until the summer term in July 2024.
Moreover, the institution has continuously implemented its HyFlex (hybrid and flexible) learning modalities such as providing synchronous or face-to-face classes for various subjects and implementing asynchronous-based for students time to do their activities since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
An announcement was also posted that all levels including its affiliate schools will shift to asynchronous learning modality on Monday, April 8 due to projected heat index. However, the administration required all non-teaching personnel to be present on campus as there will be office transactions on the said date.
With this, the autonomy of the institution on its decision to implement a dress code policy which will cater the comfort of all students that will not affect their health would also be a possible solution amid this rising heat weather.
